Belonging to the Steer Brothers

“Don’t do this, Anna.” Closing his eyes, Paul begged for the nightmare to stop. He’d wake up, and Anna would be someone else’s woman. Who would want to belong to the Steer men?

“You’re scared of me hating you.”

With each word she spoke, Paul knew it was the truth.

“Paul, the oldest and most resilient brother, is afraid I’ll give him my love and then take it away.”

The dream changed. David stood behind Anna. “If you don’t learn to love her, she’ll disappear.”

The dream flashed, and Paul sat na**d in a room. “You’re a bastard. The pair of you. How could I ever believe I loved you? You did nothing but use me. Use me.”

He watched as Anna flung items of clothing into a bag. She looked older, into her forties. She looked as if they’d broken her spirit. Her pale complexion was blotchy. She was too thin.

Paul didn’t do anything but sit and wait. Words failed him. Suddenly, an older version of himself stood in front of him. “Open your heart. If you don’t, you’ll lose her. Do you want this? To see her leave? She’s gone once because of you. What’s to say she wouldn’t do it again?”

Paul woke up. A cry echoed round the room. He was on the top floor, and he knew his brother and Anna wouldn’t hear him. His cries would go unheard at the top of the house.

Getting up from his bed he went to the bathroom and splashed some water on his face. He knew what his dream meant. If he wasn’t careful, he’d go on holding Anna at arms’ length. He would only give her a part of him, and in return he’d destroy the vibrant young woman inside her. Staring at his reflection, he refused to be the man who caused her world to turn upside down.

Chapter Three

The following day, Anna awoke with a determination to get back on old footing with the brothers. Yes, time had passed since the last time she’s seen, them but that was no excuse for her to behave like a spoiled child.

Flinging the covers off her body she climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom. After using the toilet, she washed her face, brushed her teeth before walking back into the bedroom. The pile of clothes on the desk awaited her. Groaning, she glanced at the clock. It was only seven in the morning. She had plenty of time to try the clothes on and take them into town. Dropping her nightgown on the bed, she began working on the pile of clothes. Some of her old stuff she couldn’t get past her knees, and other stuff like dresses and the odd shirt, fit better. She placed the items that still fit back in the drawer, and the others she placed on the bed.

She pulled on a pair of jeans, a shirt and some shoes, brushed her hair out and then gathered the items. She walked down stairs where she found Paul and David in the kitchen. Didn’t they sit anywhere else in the house?

“Morning,” she said. Her mind was racing as she wondered what they were thinking about. Her normal instinct was to sit down and wait for them to serve coffee, the way a guest would. But this was her house, and until they said otherwise, she’d go back to treating as if it still was her house.

“You’ve cheered up some,” David said. “What’s with the clothes?” She’d dumped them on the counter.

“Oh, those. I left them behind, and I tried them on this morning. Do you have a bag or something? I’m going to nip into town and give them to the second-hand store.” She poured her coffee and turned to assess the two men.

The time away had been way to kind to each of them. Paul looked even more darkly dangerous, and David simply looked hot. His arms looked bigger than when she was last here.

“Do you think that’s a good idea?”

What, getting wet over you?

“Huh?” They couldn’t see what she was thinking, surely.

“Going into town. You’ve not been back long.”

Anna laughed. “This is CapeFalls. Nothing ever happens here.” She drank the last of her coffee, kissed David and then Paul on the cheek, then picked up her clothes and left.

She had lots to do, including getting ready for her party.

“Wait up, Anna,” David shouted.

Turning, she saw him dangling car keys from a finger.

“Last time I checked, you didn’t have a car,” he said.

“I was going to walk, but seeing how you want to be all capable, I’ll let you drive me.” She placed the last clothing inside the bag and walked behind David to the car. “Isn’t Paul coming?”

“He’s making some last minute preparations for your party.” Anna clapped her hands. He gave her a funny look.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m trying to get back to normal. This distance between us shouldn’t be here.” Her cheeks must be bright red from the blush she felt spreading up through her body.

“Don’t worry about it. I’m glad to have you back.” He opened the boot of the car, and she dumped the bag of clothes.

“Do you want to get some breakfast in town?” he asked.

“I’ll see. Thank you,” she said as he opened the door. Anna got in and buckled her seat belt. She glanced up at his office window and saw Paul staring out. Giving him a wave, she didn’t to see if he waved back, and she settled down.

The sun was shining bright in the sky. “Has CapeFalls changed much?”

“From being judgmental and full of women who like to gossip and men who like to pretend they know everything? No, it’s pretty much the same.”

“So the same old town. Why doesn’t it move forward?” she asked. When she’d been living here, the way the people acted had never bothered her. She’d grown up in CapeFalls, and she’d accepted their way of life. Leaving had made the town seem more old-fashioned.

“I don’t know. I think they’re happier not knowing what’s going on in the world. Makes everything easier to keep in control.”

Anna rolled the window down and let the fresh air run through her hair. “I’ve missed this.” The town might be stilted in its growth, but the fresh air and mass of greenery was refreshing after a life of living in the city.

“Do you think you’ll miss your old life?”

“You don’t know what happened in my old life.” She knew he was talking about college.

“Tell me about what you did.” He turned a corner, and she saw the town coming into view.

“I studied. Literature, mostly. I found a passion for reading, which wasn’t a big surprise.”

“Why?”

“Well, everyone here knew my business and left me alone, apart from the gossip and whispers. In a city or my college, people want to know about you. When they found out my parents died, I became like a tortured soul they wanted to constantly talk to. If I had a book in my hand, they left me alone,” she said.